Many senior citizens take advantage of their extra free time by volunteering with local nonprofits and helping the less fortunate.

If you know a senior citizen who volunteers his or her time, you have until March 31 to nominate that person for the Salute to Senior Service program. The program, sponsored by Home Instead, Inc., the franchisor of the Home Instead Senior Care network, honors the contributions of adults 65 and older who give at least 15 hours a month of volunteer service to their favorite causes.

After the nomination period closes, a winner from each state will be selected by popular vote from among the nominees. The public can vote online at www.SalutetoSeniorService.com between April 15 and April 30. Then, a panel of senior care experts will pick the national Salute to Senior Service honoree from among the state winners.

Home Instead, Inc. will donate $500 to each of the state winners’ favorite nonprofit organizations, and their stories will be posted on the Salute to Senior Service Wall of Fame. In addition, $5,000 will be donated to the national winner’s nonprofit charity of choice.

This is a great way to recognize the outstanding services that so many of our senior citizens provide. To nominate someone, go to www.salutetoseniorservice.com and fill in the entry form on the home page. You can also download the form, print it out and mail it in after completing it.